The Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice of India D. Y. Chandrachud, has proposed new Chief Justices for seven major High Courts across India. The recommendations, which focus on seniority, regional representation, and the need for more women judges in leadership roles, are for the High Courts of Kerala, Orissa, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, Bombay, Telangana, and Gujarat.
The Collegium has suggested Justice Ashish J. Desai of the Gujarat High Court as the new Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court, following the proposed elevation of the incumbent Justice S. Venkatanarayana Bhatti to the Supreme Court. “Justice Desai is the senior most puisne judge of the Gujarat High Court and currently performing the duties of the Chief Justice of that High Court following the retirement of Justice Sonia G. Gokani,” the Collegium stated, noting that Gujarat did not have a representation among the Chief Justices of High Courts.
Justice Subhasis Talapatra, the senior most puisne judge of the Tripura High Court, has been recommended for appointment as Chief Justice of Orissa High Court upon the retirement of the incumbent Justice S. Muralidhar, in August 2023. The Collegium noted that Tripura High Court has not had representation among the Chief Justices of High Courts since its inception in 2013.
Justice Siddharth Mridul, the senior most puisne judge of the Delhi High Court, has been recommended for appointment as the Manipur Chief Justice. The Collegium has also proposed to elevate Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur, a Bombay High Court judge, as Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court.
Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, a senior puisne judge of the Allahabad High Court, has been recommended as the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court. The Collegium noted that Justice Upadhyaya is a senior puisne judge of the Allahabad High Court, which is the largest High Court in the country.
Justice Sunita Agarwal, the senior most puisne judge of the Allahabad High Court, has been recommended as Gujarat Chief Justice. The Collegium underscored that Justice Agarwal, if appointed, would be the “only woman Chief Justice of a High Court as presently there is no woman among the Chief Justices of the High Courts”.
Lastly, Justice Alok Aradhe, a senior Madhya Pradesh High Court judge, has been proposed for elevation as Telangana Chief Justice in place of Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, who has been recommended for appointment to the Supreme Court.
These recommendations highlight the Supreme Court Collegium’s commitment to maintaining a balance of seniority, regional representation, and gender diversity in the higher judiciary.